Foot treatment implement



Jan; 9, 1951 s 2,537,037

FOOT TREATMENT IMPLEMENT Filed June 8, 1948 I8 FIG.

2O 27 [I I5 .12 14 lo Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNETED STATES PATNT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of a human foot b providing an implement by which the foot may be supported and moved back-andforth thereon to massage the foot, manipulate the flesh and muscular construction of the foot, and particularly the raising of the honey structure of the arch of the foot to restore it to nor mal condition or overcome any tendency of the; same to weaken or fall.

With the foregoing considerations in mind the object of the invention is to provide an implement in the nature of a roller or elongated form contoured to fit the bottom of the foot beneath the arch thereof and shaped to have the foot rest thereon under such pressure as may be desired, the roller being adapted to be moved backand-forth in a rotary direction under the influence of the foot to effect the manipulation intended.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to contour the roller so that its portion of maximum diameter will have assured engagement directly beneath the arch of the foot, in other words the surface of the roller will be of increasing diameter toward one end of the footengaging portion of the roller as distinguished from having the operating surface of the roller of maximum diameter at the center of the implement corresponding to the longitudinal center of the foot under treatment; also the provision of means for permitting a yield or give of the implement while under the pressure of the foot to relieve the implement of severe or too rigid operation; still further the provision of means associated with the implement to guide and prevent displacement thereof when in movement under the actuation of the foot.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, embracing all of the characteristics hereinabove mentioned, as well as a means for imparting a thermal or temperature condition to the treatment during the action of the implement, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and the construction thereof will be more readily understood from said drawings when considered in connection with the detailed description hereinafter contained.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view through the device, the interior heating means appearing in side view.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device, the said interior heating means being similarly shown in section.

Figure 3 is an end view of the roller.

Figure 4 is a central transverse section through Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a detachable suction cup or equivalent friction device to enhance the engagement between the massage device and the foot.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views 5 represents the roller formed of suitable material such as steel or aluminum having ends 5 of maximum diameter provided with solid rubber tires or the like I, on which the roller is adapted to bear on a floor or bottom member 8 of a trough-like guideway 9, having side flanges arranged to engage the end surfaces [0 of the roller to maintain the same in astraight path of movement when moving back-and-forth under actuation of the foot to be treated, and a transversely ribbed or corrugated bottom 91) to effect vertical oscillation of the roller in its travel thereover.

The roller has a central portion ll of reduced diameter compared to the diameter of the end portions 6, the surface of this central portion being inclined or curved, gradually forming a low point l2, adjoining one of the end portions 6 to a maximum or high point l3, somewhat beyond the longitudinal center of the implement and thence curved downwardly to a correspondingly low point It, adjoining the opposite end portion 6 of the roller.

Assuming the sections of Figures 1 and 2 to b positioned with the high or maximum point of elevation l3 located somewhat to the right of the longitudinal center of the roller, it will be understood that the roller in this position is to receive the left foot of the patient with the maximum diameter of the intermediate or engaging portion of the roller beneath the higher or hollow portion of the foot, in other words, the arch support of the latter. The device will be operable and the conditions the same in connection with the right foot of the patient when facing the implement from the opposite side of the roller illustrated in Figure 1.

Preferably, the middle or treating portion of the roller has its exterior surface knurled or roughened to present a foot-engaging face l5 so that a bare or stockinged foot may have interlocking engagement with the roller and positively roll the implement at the will of the operator.

The roller may have efiicacious use as thus far described, but it is preferable that provision be made for supplying heat or temperature there to, as may be desired, and to this end the interior of the roller is hollow as at 16 providing a cylindrical chamber in the roller opening to lateral outlet passages I! coincident with the portion of the roller constituting the maximum diameter thereof, as previously stated. The lateral passages 11 are closed by detachable threaded plugs l8 having an ultimate escape aperture or vent l9. These apertures 19 also permit air to enter the chamber 15 to be heated. The chamber l6 within the roller is somewhat enlarged, as at 20, and provided with a shoulder 2| against which the head end 22 may bear when a heating device 23 is introduced -into' theroller with the opposite end of the device fittinga hear ing 24 in the other end of the roller, the end of the heating device being covered "and protected by a disc 25, threaded as at 26 into theadjacent end portion In of the roller. The heating'element 23 may be of anypreferred type, that illus- "trated comprising "an insulatingcarr-ier 2'? I in "the nature of a porcelain or similar core around which "the resistance or heating wiring is wound and electrically connected through head 22 to terminals 2;? for engagement-Witha socket in communicationwith an electrical seurce of "supply. Conveniently, "also, thermostat 39 maybe introduced into the-wiring for limiting the maximum heating of the device.

While I have herein-specifically referred to The plugs i 8 afford a convenient I instrumentality-Whereby to attach suction'cups ordeviees L to enhance the engagement 3 between the massage device and the feet at the same time exer- -cisingthe'fies'hy part of the foot-ina somewhat kneading fashion 4 incident 1 to I the roll-ingot the implement under the pressure of the foot and raising of the said fleshy parts into and out of engagement with said cups.

Thecups just referred to are illustrated in Figure-4 where it-will'be note'dthatdn theinstancesof sayevery otherone ofthe plugs i8,-'a

suction cup attachment is provided, the-same "comprising cupcirc-ular rtibber discs al having rubber shanks 32 and yieldable balls 33, the

T file of this patent:

.albearingsurface, and -an intermediate engaging portion for the bottom of the foot and having means to facilitate the hold of a foot to the implement comprising friction cups rolling therewithand said friction cups having a stem pass- .ing through ,an apertured portion of the implement, and aeo'mpressible ball at the end of the stem adaptedlnor'mally to be of a size to prevent escapethrough said aperture.

2. A foot treating implement comprising an elongated roller having enlarged ends and an intermediate part to "be engaged "by the bottom of a foot being *treated, said ends being provided with inwardly extending concavedsidewvaills -joiningwith the intermediate part and forming val- -leys "adjacent saidends, sai'd intermediatepart being provided with an internal chamber-for containing an electrical heating unit and comprising a portion-'f'ormed as a truncated coneand'a part joined therewith of semi-spherical form, that part-of said truncated-conehavingthe greatest diameter being conve xly curved longitudinally andpositioned slightly beyond-the longitudinal cent-er of said intermediate part, said convexiy curved part of the truncated cone beingpro'vi'ded with circumferentially spaced openings communicating with the internal chamber so thatheeit- *edair froin's'a-id chamber may be directlyapplied "tothe' bottom'of th'e root.

CECIL CLAUD CURTIS.

REFERENCES 'SCIT-ED The *following references are "of "recor'dini the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number -Name Date 8383381 AndreWS' 'et 'al May 1-9,' -1'908 1, 593 ,598 Heilborn g '=NOV. 3'O,-1926 1 721865 snyder Jelly-"80, 192 9 15931302? Marchan'd May 23, 1933 2080,2055 'Il-leh --May11, -1937 234485797 -Gustlin Sept 7, 1-943 

